The Maui Nō Ka ‘Oi Podcast Presented By SilverShark Media

Diane Woodburn speaks to recently retired Chef / Restaurant Owner Bev Gannon.  In this podcast Bev talks about her decision to retire from the restaurant industry, what it was like opening the restaurant at Hali'imaile General Store in the late 80's, how she navigated the early days of running a restaurant, the challenge of navigating the early stages of the pandemic in 2020, how the eff...

Jason Evans of SilverShark Media speaks with John Carty, Vice President and co-founder of the Save Honolua Coalition.  In this podcast John talks about the inspiration behind starting the Save Honolua Coalition, why Honolua is such an sacred place, the original intent for the moorings set up at Honolua Bay for boats, his reaction when he first learned of the yacht that was grounded over the past f...

Diane Woodburn speaks to Raul Bermudez, Executive Chef at the Kula Lodge.  In this podcast Raul talks about being a part of the new management team that has taken over the Kula Lodge, coming to Maui from the Philippines when he was 8 years old, his path working in the restaurant industry on Maui that led him to Kula Lodge, how the restaurant industry on Maui has evolved over the past few decades,...

Jason Evans of SilverShark Media speaks to Kumu Kapono'ai Molitau, founder of Native Intelligence.  In this podcast Kapono'ai talks about growing up on Oahu, his early influences, his path to becoming a Kumu Hula, what the role of a Kumu can entail, what it's like participating in Merrie Monarch, how innovations in technology over the years can impact hula, what inspired him to open...

Jason Evans of SilverShark Media speaks to Flip Nicklin, a National Geographic photographer and one of the world's leading photographers of whales.  In this podcast Flip talks about his introduction to the underwater world, the evolution of photography gear from when he started to modern day,  one of the biggest surprises he's witnessed with whale behavior, the conditions that need to be...

Jason Evans of SilverShark Media speaks to Executive Chef Lee Anne Wong of Papa'aina at The Pioneer Inn.  In this podcast Lee Anne talks about her path from New York City to Maui, what it was like opening Papa'aina in December of 2019 only to have to temporarily close a few months later due to the pandemic, challenges the restaurant industry is still facing due to the pandemic, how decon...

Jason Evans of SilverShark Media speaks to Andrew Rogers, the General Manager of The Ritz-Carlton Maui, Kapalua.  In this episode Andrew talks about how he started in the hospitality industry, the path that led him from Jamaica to Maui to China and back to Maui, what it's like transitioning as GM from a business hub like Shanghai to the resort destination of Kapalua, what it was like navigati...

Diane Woodburn speaks to Lisa Paulson, Executive Director of the Maui Hotel & Lodging Association (MHLA).  In this podcast Lisa talks about what the MHLA does, the path that led her from training as an opera singer to Maui, how collaboration is a crucial part of her role, the revenue the MHLA sends back to the county through taxes, the negative impact of illegal vacation rentals, the MHLA comm...

Jason Evans of SilverShark Media speaks to Isaac Bancaco, Executive Chef at Pacific'o on the Beach.  In this podcast Isaac talks about his early culinary influences, how he decided to pursue a career in the culinary industry, working with highly regarded chefs like Ming Tsai & Roy Yamaguchi, his experience being on Iron Chef on the Food Network, what brought him back to Maui, the importan...

We begin our 4th year of the podcast series with Jason Evans of SilverShark Media speaking to the Steve MacKinnon, CEO of Maui Humane Society.  In this episode Steve talks about his path that led from criminal justice to Maui Humane Society, some differences in large shelters in big cities vs smaller shelters like MHS, the ongoing issue of overpopulation at animal shelters, an insight into some of...

Diane Woodburn speaks to Kyle Kawakami of Maui Fresh Streatery.  In this podcast Kyle talks about growing up on Maui, winning the Aipono Chef of the Year award in 2019 (and other awards for Best Food Truck),  mentoring under Chef Tylun Pang, why he began his Aloha Tip Jar and how the money raised gets dispersed into the community, his approach to the menu for Maui Fresh Streatery, the challenges i...

Jason Evans of SilverShark Media speaks to Diane Woodburn, former publisher of Maui No Ka Oi Magazine.  In this podcast Diane announces her decision to retire from Maui No Ka Oi Magazine, what went into her decision, how her career on Maui started, her intentions for Maui No Ka Oi Magazine when it began, how she had to evolve over the years, what it's been like covering the food industry over...

Jason Evans of SilverShark Media speaks to Executive Chef Michael Patria from the Four Seasons Resort Maui at Wailea.  In this podcast Michael talks about the upcoming Four Seasons Maui Wine & Food Classic which will be held over Labor Day weekend, the approach to balancing food & wine pairings as a chef, when he first realized he wanted to become a chef, how his career took him from Atlan...

Jason Evans of SilverShark Media speaks to Laurie LaGrange of Pasha Hawaii.  In this podcast Laurie explains what Pasha Hawaii does, how it's a family run business with roots dating back to the 1940's, the different roles that vessels have in transporting cargo, some of the largest and more unique items that have been loaded onto a Pasha Hawaii vessel, what goes into the preparation for...

Jason Evans of SilverShark Media speaks to Chef / Restaurateur Peter Merriman.  In this podcast Peter talks about what the past 2 years have been like, the correlation between staffing challenges and affordable housing on Maui, navigating through the workforce shortage in general, industry changes created by the pandemic that will stick around, what went into the decision to switch to a prix-fixe...

Jason Evans of SilverShark Media speaks to chef Taylor Ponte of Kamado.  In this podcast Taylor talks about how his career has evolved since May of 2020 when we last spoke to him, how he used time during the pandemic to adapt, what it was like learning he would be receiving the 2020 Aipono Chef of the Year award during the pandemic, how he will be recognized for that award in person at the upcomin...

Diane Woodburn of Maui No Ka Oi Magazine speaks with Mark Malone, Instructor at the Culinary Arts & Hospitality Program at UH Maui College.   In this podcast Mark talks about his background on Maui where he worked with the Ritz-Carlton Kapalua, Maui on the first Aipono Awards event that was held at a resort, how students benefit and learn from the Aipono Awards event, the importance of support...

Diane Woodburn of Maui No Ka Oi Magazine speaks with Daniel Chun, Director of Sales & Public Relations in Hawaii for Alaska Airlines.  In this podcast Daniel talks about his history working with Alaska Airlines for the past 11 years, growing up in a family business on Oahu, how Alaska Airlines was a recent recipient of an Airline of the Year Award, how the airline is celebrating 15 years with...

Diane Woodburn of Maui No Ka Oi Magazine speaks with Kawika Freitas, Director of Public and Cultural Relations for the Old Lahaina Luau.  In this podcast Kawika talks about a brief history of Old Lahaina Luau (including development of Aloha Mixed Plate and Feast at Lele), how Old Lahaina Luau has won the Aipono Gold Award for Best Luau for every year for almost twenty years, what his role at Old L...

Diane Woodburn of Maui No Ka Oi Magazine speaks with Barry Rivers, founder of the Maui Film Festival.  In this podcast Barry talks about why he started the Maui Film Festival a few decades ago, making it a positive & uplifting event, shifting the venue post-pandemic to the MAAC, the virtual component this year for those who cannot attend in-person, a few films of interest in this years schedul...

Jason Evans of SilverShark Media speaks to Master Sommelier Michael Jordan about the upcoming Kapalua Wine & Food Festival.  In this podcast Michael talks about how he got into the wine industry, the impact Frank Sinatra had on his path, some of the steps you have to go through to become a Master Sommelier, the difference in judging wine vs simply drinking wine, his tips for anyone heading to...

Diane Woodburn of Maui No Ka Oi Magazine speaks with Qiana DiBari of Sale Pepe & Pacific’o.  In this podcast Qiana talks about building loyal customers with Sale Pepe since opening in 2014, their Bu'Ono product line available in Safeway and Whole Foods on Maui, the decision to join Louis Coloumbe to reopen Pacific’o on the Beach in Lahaina, her background growing up in Brooklyn, her time...

Jason Evans of SilverShark Media speaks to Kimberly Flook of the Lahaina Restoration Foundation.  In this podcast Kimberly talks about the purpose of the Lahaina Restoration Foundation, the history of the organization, the challenges of adapting older significant buildings, the Lahaina Quest Keiki Programs that are offered, what it was like to receive a Community Enrichment Award from the Hawaii T...

Diane Woodburn of Maui No Ka Oi Magazine speaks to Clifford Nae'ole, Hawaiian Cultural Advisor at The Ritz-Carlton Maui, Kapalua about the upcoming Celebration of the Arts.  In this podcast Clifford talks about the upcoming 30th annual Celebration of the Arts festival on April 15th & 16th, how this event allows an opportunity for artists and practitioners to share elements of Hawaiian cul...

Diane Woodburn of Maui No Ka Oi Magazine speaks with Samira Seibaa, Executive Pastry Chef of Hoaloha Na Ekolu.  In this podcast Samira talks about how her mom influenced her passion for food, moving to the east coast to attend Le Cordon Bleu college of culinary arts, why she shifted over to baking, how the pandemic impacted her professional life, balancing the different approaches of Old Lahaina L...